Explosive loading



June 26, 1956 J. D. CLARK ET AL EXPLOSIVE LOADING Filed May 12, 1950OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO II II 1| ll ll LI U U [I U UU I] I] ll ll ll ll U ll ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,751,810 IEXPLOSIVE LOADING Application May 12, 1950, Serial No. 161,698 v 2Claims. (Cl. se-zo This invention relates to the art of fillingcontainers with explosive and more particularly to the loadingof shells,small bombs, and other explosive projectiles.

Heretofore, the loading of such projectiles with fusible explosives,such as TNT and mixtures thereof with cyclonite or ammonium nitrate, hadbeen accomplished by melting a large mass of the explosive and thensuccessively filling a number of the projectiles by pouring the moltenexplosive into the mouth of the cavity within the projectile. Amongother difllculties experienced, there has been a tendency for theexplosive to adhere'to the mouth of the projectile and it has beennecessary to manually clean any threads or grooves in the mouthsubsequent to the filling operation. Further, air bubbles tended to betrapped within the explosive charge when it solidified. Likewise, suchexplosives tend to shrink upon cooling from a molten state tosolidification and an undesirable cavity or sinkhead is formed at thesurface of the explosive as it hardens.

Various devices have been described for the purpose of avoiding suchundesirable effects while pouring the molten explosive into theprojectile but with such devices it was 2,751,810 Patented June 26, 1956ice to properly load one projectile, only a small amount of explosiveneed be concentrated in any one location and by utilizing a number ofsuch hoppers production loading of the containers can be accomplishedwithout melting any large mass of explosive. Having indicated intheforegoing-in a general way the nature and substance of thisinvention, there follows a more detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof with reference to the ac:- companying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view illustrating a hopper 'em' bodying thisinvention, and a I Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of thehopper illustrated in Figure 1. a Referring to Figures 1 and 2, thehopper is formed of vessel or upper chamber 1 of rectangular shapeprovided with fins 2, a perforate bottom or septum 2, side walls 4extending below the bottom 3, and a shoulder 5'designed to rest on theupper edge of the lower chamber or funnel .shaped portion 6. The lowerchamber 6 terminates in an annular portion or outlet 7 provided with astop 8 and-a resilient gasket 9, which is preferably secured to *thean-' nular portion 7.

In operation, the annular portion 7 is pushed 'into the mouth of thecavity in the projectile 10 to be filled with explosive, with the gasket9 serving to align the hopper in position by compression between themouth of the pro jectile 10 and annular portion 7. The hopper issupported by the stop 8 resting on the edge of the projectile 10 andlimiting the extent of insertion. When the hopperprojectile assembly isof such dimension as to be top heavy or unstable, it may be held uprightby any-suitable means.

still the practice to melt a large mass of explosive and control thepouring of such molten explosive by meansof valves so that projectilescould be filled on a production basis: The :melting and pouring andcontrol by valves'of a large mass of explosive is, of course, ahazardous operation. Numerous explosions have resulted from theoperation of such valves and it is an object of this invention toprovide novel efficient means for loading such-projectiles with-fusibleexplosive on a mass production basis without the necessity of meltinglarge masses of the explosives or use of valves. Another object is toprovide a method and device for filling containers with explosives freeof the' dis.-

advantages referred to in the foregoing. Another object is to provide adevice facilitating the loading of projectiles with the body ofexplosivefree ofundesirable voids and similar imperfections. device .and methodof filling containers with explosive which overcome the disadvantageoccasioned by shrinkage of the explosive upon solidification. A furtherobject is to provide a device and method for economically andeffectively loading containers with explosives of the type that shrinkupon solidification. A. still further objectfis to increase the safetyof the operation of loadiug'projectiles with a dense mass of explosive.Still another object is to provide a hopper having improved means forassembly with the container to be filled with explosive and for removaltherefrom.

The foregoing objects and advantages, as well as others which may becomeapparent from the detail description hereinafter are accomplished inaccordance with this invention by providing a hopper adapted to beeasily inserted into the mouth of the cavity to be filled with explosiveand so designed and constructed as to serve as a melting vessel for thecharge of particulate explosive for the container and deposit therein adense charge of the explosive. Inasmuch as the hopper holds only asufiicient amount of explosive Another object .is to vprovidea If, asillustrated, the projectile mouth is internally threaded, as at 11, thegasket 9 prevents explosive from filling in the threads and maintains asnug fit in the mouth of the projectile. To shorten the time requiredfor melting the explosive the hopper-projectile assembly is preheated toa temperature near the melting point of the explosive, say C. C. in thecase of TNT, and the vessel 1 is then filled with the particulateexplosive. The particulate explosive may be in the form ofcrystals, orof comminuted, granular, ribbonor tape-like fragments,-or inany otherdesired form of subdivision. The assembly having the explosive in vessel1 is then heated at a temperature above the melting point of theexplosive until all the explosive has melted and flowed by gravitythrough the. perforations in bottom or plate 3 into the funnelshapedportion 6 through outlet 7 and into the projectile 10, whereupon it isthen cooled. By so melting the explosive and permitting the moltenmaterial to flow into the projectile, the melting and flowing occurs assmall rivulets or droplets and is sufficiently gentle or gradual toavoid entrapment of air within the explosive mass. A very dense castingof explosive within the projectile is thus obtained. The amount ofparticulate explosive held by the vessel 1 is sufiicient upon beingmelted to fill'not only the projectile but a portion of the lowerchamber 6 of the hopper, so that there is a head or riser 12 ofexplosive therein. Upon solidification of the explosive, the sinkhead orcavitation occurs external of the projectile as at 13. As the projectilefills with explosive the displaced air escapes up through perforationsin 3, or, if the perforations are all filled with molten explosive, theair escapes between the top of the funnel-shaped portion 6 and thesidewall 4 and shoulder 5. If the hopper is so designed that thefunnel-shaped portion 6 is not detachable then a suitable air vent isprovided below the bottom of perforated plate 3. When the assembly hassufficiently cooled to permit the explosive to solidify the hopper issubjected to a slight lateral movement with respect to the projectile,whereupon the explosive is cleanly severed at the bottom 14 of thehopper. The hopper is then removed from the projectile merely by pullingit out of the '13 mouth. The gasket being rubber-like facilitates theoperation.

As illustrated the hopper is so designed as to be readily taken apart bymerely lifting the vessel 1 from the funnelshaped portion 6 whichgreatly facilitates subsequent cleaning thereof. The riser of explosivein the portion 6 may be readily removed by turning said portion upsidedown and knocking the riser out. The inner surface of the portion 7 ispreferably a truncated cone with 'its narrowest diameter at the outletto facilitate removal of the riser. Upon separating the vessel 1 fromthe portion 6, the perforate bottom 3 of the upper chamber is likewisemade easily accessible for cleaning. The vessel 1 and portion 6 need notbe made detachable but it is preferred that they be separable tofacilitate cleaning and reuse. The vessel 1 may be of rectangular shape,as illustrated, and the fins are utilized to provide more heat exchangesurface between the explosive and the source of heat. The time ofmelting required by the explosive is thereby considerably shortened. Theshape need not be exactly rectangular but may be of any desiredconfiguration designed to facilitate transfer of heat to the explosive.The resilient gasket 9 about the annular portion 7 serves a multi-foldpurpose in that it facilitates insertion of the portion 7 into the openmouth of the projectile and removal therefrom, and at the same timeprevents explosive from entering the threads, if any, existent in themouth of the projectile. The resilient gasket 9 may be of any suitablerubberlike material such as polyethylene or other suitable plastic, butis preferably made of synthetic rubber and of hollow construction, asillustrated, for greater resilience.

In production, the hoppers and empty projectiles can be assembled andheld upright on an automatic conveyer, which carries them successivelythrough a preheating oven where they are preheated to a temperature nearthe melting point of the explosive to be utilized, then to an explosivecharging station where the proper weight of particulate explosive ischarged into the vessel 1, then again through an oven of suflicientlength and temperature to permit all of the explosive to melt and flowthrough the perforated bottom 3 of the container, and thence to coolingand disassembling stations, where the hopper is detached from theexplosive-charged projectiles. During the melting and conveyingoperations the individual hopperprojectile assemblies may be so spacedthat if one is exploded, adjacent assemblies are not exploded, thusgreatly increasing the safety of the operation.

As will be apparent from the foregoing specific embodiment, the methodand hopper of this invention facilitate the safe loading of explosivecontainers with cast dense charges of explosive within the container. Itis to be understood that the embodiment of the present invention asshown and described is only illustrative and that many changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in. the following claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. The improved method of filling projectiles with a dense charge offusible explosive substantially devoid of entrapped air pockets whichcomprises assembling with said projectile a filling device having ahopper, a funnel shaped portion depending therefrom and having adischarge end a p to e d chably c d to e filling aperture of theprojectile, a resilient gasket about said discharge end and a perforatedplate separating the hopper from the funnel shaped portion, saidassembling being achieved by inserting said discharge end in saidaperture with said gasket compressed between the wall of the projectileand the wall of said discharge end; placing just sufiicient explosive inparticulate form on said perforated plate to fill the projectile andonly a portion of the funnel shaped portion of the filling device withmolten explosive; placing the assembly in a heated atmosphere andheating the explosive until it gradually melts and flows in smallrivulets and droplets through the perforations in said plate and throughthe funnel shaped portion into the projectile thereby displacing the airin the projectile through the perforated plate and filling theprojectile and a portion of the funnel shaped portion of the fillingdevice; cooling the assembly until the resulting cast charge ofexplosive in the projectile and said funnelshaped portion solidifies;and thereafter moving said funnel laterally with respect to theprojectile thus severing the explosive in the projectile from that inthe said funnel shaped portion.

2. A filling device for filling a projectile having a filling aperturesurrounded by a casing, said filling device being adapted to be chargedwith particulate explosive and, upon heating, to discharge moltenexplosive into said projectile with substantially complete displacementof the air in said projectile, said filling device comprising a hopperwith heat exchange means, a funnel shaped conduit means depending fromsaid hopper and having a discharge end having a resilient gasketthereabout and within the filling aperture of the projectile, and anannular flange adapted to rest on the end of the projectile, saiddischarge end being detachably secured in said filling aperture of saidprojectile with said fiange resting on said casing and with said gasketcompressed between said casing and said conduit means, therebypreventing molten explosive from creeping between said discharge end andthe casing about said aperture as the projectile is filled therewith,and a perforated plate separating the hopper from said conduit meansadapted to support an explosive in particulate form but to permit, uponheating, molten explosive to flow through the perforations in smallrivulets and dropletsv and to drop into said conduit and projectile andto substantially completely displace the air as the projectile and aportion, of the conduit is filled with molten explosive, said gasketpermitting free movement of said conduit relative to said projectile topermit separation of said filling device from said projectile aftercooling and solidification of the explosive by breaking apart theportions of explosive in said projectile and in said conduit.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,011,511 Sokolowski Dec. 12, 1911 1,899,095 Knight Feb. 28, 19332,217,743 Greenewalt Oct. 15, 1940 2,227,845 Rogers Jan. 7, 19412,350,181 Morgan May 30, 1944 2,352,207 Knight et al June 27, 19442,435,610 Schneider Feb. 10, 1948

2. A FILLING DEVICE FOR FILLING A PROJECTILE HAVING A FILLING APERTURESURROUNDED BY A CASING, SAID FILLING DEVICE BEING ADAPTED TO BE CHARGEDWITH PARTICULATE EXPLOSIVE AND, UPON HEATING, TO DISCHARGE MOLTENEXPLOSIVE INTO SAID PROJECTILE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE DISPLACEMENTOF THE AIR IN SAID PROJECTILE, SAID FILLING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOPPERWITH HEAT EXCHANGE MEANS, A FUNNEL SHAPED CONDUIT MEANS DEPENDING FROMSAID HOPPER AND HAVING A DISCHARGE END HAVING A RESILIENT GASKETTHEREABOUT AND WITHIN THE FILLING APERTURE OF THE PROJECTILE, AND ANANNULAR FLANGE ADAPTED TO REST ON THE END OF THE PROJECTILE, SAIDDISCHARGE END BEING DETACHABLY SECURED IN SAID FILLING APERTURE OF SAIDPROJECTILE WITH SAID FLANGE RESTING ON SAID CASING AND WITH SAID GASKETCOMPRESSED BETWEEN SAID CASING AND SAID CONDUIT MEANS, THEREBYPREVENTING MOLTEN EXPLOSIVE FROM CREEPING BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGE END ANDTHE CASING ABOUT SAID APERTURE AS THE PROJECTILE IS FILLED THEREWITH,AND A PERFORATED PLATE SEPARATING THE HOPPER FROM SAID CONDUIT MEANSADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN EXPLOSIVE IN PARTICULATE FROM BUT TO PERMIT, UPONHEATING, MOLTEN EXPLOSIVE TO FLOW THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS IN SMALLRIVULETS AND DROPLETS AND TO DROP INTO SAID CONDUIT AND PROJECTILE ANDTO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY DISPLACE THE AIR AS THE PROJECTILE AND APORTION OF THE CONDUIT IS FILLED WITH MOLTEN EXPLOSIVE, SAID GASKETPERMITTING FREE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONDUIT RELATIVE TO SAID PROJECTILE TOPERMIT SEPARATION OF SAID FILLING DEVICE FROM SAID PROJECTILE AFTERCOOLING AND SOLIDIFICATION OF THE EXPLOSIVE BY BREAKING APART THEPORTIONS OF EXPLOSIVE IN SAID PROJECTILE AND IN SAID CONDUIT.